Bolt Lubrication Applicator with Plunger and Squeegee
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Solution Overview
Problem
The application of anti-seize compounds to bolts in gas turbine engines is time-intensive and laborious, with varying quality due to technician training and experience, making it inefficient for routine maintenance and disassembly.
Innovation Solution
A lubrication applicator device with a plunger and cavity system that immerses the bolt in lubricant, applies it to threaded sections and thrust faces, and includes features for excess lubricant removal, such as apertures, a squeegee, or spring-loaded ejector pin, to streamline the lubrication process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a brush is used to apply lubricant to the bolt, then the lubricant can be applied to the threaded sections and thrust face, but the application process becomes time-intensive and laborious
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual brush application method with an automated lubrication device that uses a plunger mechanism to force lubricant through apertures onto the bolt surfaces. This mechanical substitution eliminates the need for manual brushing, significantly reducing application time while maintaining consistent lubrication coverage on threaded sections and thrust faces.
Solution Approach 2:
The lubrication device is designed to automatically apply lubricant to the bolt when inserted into the cavity. The plunger mechanism self-actuates to force lubricant through the apertures, and the bolt itself guides the lubricant application process, reducing the need for manual intervention and improving application speed.
2Ease of operation
If a brush is used to apply lubricant, then the lubricant can be applied, but the quality of application varies due to technician training and experience
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the skill-dependent manual brush application with a standardized mechanical device. The plunger mechanism and aperture design ensure consistent lubricant flow and distribution regardless of operator skill level, eliminating variations caused by different technician training and experience.
Solution Approach 2:
The device controls lubricant application parameters (flow rate, distribution pattern, coverage area) through its mechanical design rather than relying on technician judgment. The aperture size, plunger force, and cavity geometry are fixed parameters that ensure consistent lubrication quality across all applications.
3Productivity
If excess lubricant is not removed from the bolt, then the lubrication process is simpler, but excess lubricant may cause contamination or waste
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates features specifically designed to remove excess lubricant from the bolt after application. The squeegee element extracts excess lubricant from the bolt surface, and the ejector pin helps remove the lubricated bolt from the cavity. This extraction process prevents lubricant waste and potential contamination while maintaining efficient operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The device design allows for the discarding of excess lubricant through the squeegee mechanism, which collects and removes surplus lubricant from the bolt surface. This prevents both waste and potential contamination issues, while the main lubrication function is preserved through the controlled application via apertures.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device enables quick and consistent lubrication of bolts, reducing time and labor while ensuring proper lubrication, thereby enhancing maintenance efficiency and reducing costs.
Implementation Method 1
The lubricant reduces friction between the bolt and a component (e.g., a flange) that the bolt mates to in order to ensure ease of assembly and to aid in the removal of the bolt during disassembly
Implementation Method 2
The lubrication applicator device includes a spring-loaded ejector pin that is configured to aid in a withdrawal of the bolt from the lubrication applicator device
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the disclosure are directed to a system comprising: a lubrication applicator device that includes: a base having a cavity that is configured to store a lubricant, and a plunger that is configured to seat a head of a bolt in a counterbore of the base, where the plunger is axially movable in the cavity and is configured to be at least partially recessed in the cavity to cause a side of the bolt to be immersed in the lubricant.